Means for and method of forming welt seams



July 25, 1944. P. w. VALENTINE Y ,K 2,354,490

` MEANS FOR AND METHOD oF'FQRMING-JNELT sEAMs Filed July 1, 1940 v 'ofy Fig. 1. Y

Patented July 25, .1944' UNITED STATES MEANS FOR ANDMETnoD oF FRMII'NG WELT sEAMs i .f

lPercy W. Valentine, Brooklyn, N. Y. v I Application July 1', 194o',`s'eiia1No. 343,355 `r v1.2 claims. .(o1.112' 139)l This invention relates to a means for and vmethod. of. forming welt seams, and articularly seamsA of the type employed when joining corresponding edges of sheet members, and the yobject of the invention is to provide a welt :form-` ing means of the character described comprising an attachment for'use on conventional sewing ,machines said attachment having means for guiding andsupporting a plurality of workpieces including sheet.V members to, be assembled in formingsaid seam, a further object being to '.provideomeans in an attachment of the class described for independently adjusting the guide of predetermined worllzpieces a still further object being to provide a method of and` means for guiding` pairs of sheet, strip, and strand members into position ,to beV united by a single line of. stitching; and vwith these and other objects in view,gthe invention consists in a method of Y and attachment for forming weltvseams which is hereinafter more fullyV described and claimed. The inventionisfullydisclosed in the` following specification, of which the laccompanying drawing forms a part, in which the several parts of my invention are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a, plan'view of my attachment with part of the structure broken away.-

, Fig. 2 is a view substantially on vthe line 2-2 o f Fig. 1,.v Y l A Fig. 3 is a view substantially on the line 3-3 A,Figa is a View substantially on the line 4-4 Fig.` 5 is aview substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, J

Fig. 6 is a view substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.y

Fig. 7 is an enlarged end view of one form of 4vwelt seam made by the attachment shown, and Fig. 8 is a sectional detailed viewl similar to Fig. 1 omitting the workpieces and showing only part of the construction.

This invention relates essentially to the method of forming an improved welt seam such as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawing, and fully described and claimed in my companion application Ser. #339,266,1i1ed June 7, 1940. To illustrate one means for carrying out my improved method of forming a welt seam, I have shownin the drawing an attachment I0 having a mounting plate'II for supporting a plurality of workpiece guides in connection with a conventional sewing machine, the mounting plate is provided with av suitable key-wayV I2 for slidably engaging a corresponding key-.way of the sewing machine, and is further provided v'with' suitable meansl as indicated by the screw-holes I3 for setting and retaining the mounting plate in posi- (i0 tion to alinethe aperture .Mmther'eof with the needle of the machine.'A y

A workpiecewguide block I5. isradjustably secured to the mounting plate by asuitable screw or stud I6 passing through-an `elongated aper- V`ture I6a in the guide block; the .guide block being maintained in 'proper valinement on the mounting plate bycooperating shoulders as seen at I1. Theguide blockl5.isprovided,with a channel I8 atv-.the free-edgefthereof interiitting with a reduced portion IIB 'ofan intermediate guide blockA 20, the blocks I5 and,20..being deorstuds 2l; v A Y .The block 20 is in` turn provided at the free edge thereof Awith agroove .Z2-having -slidably arranged therein an'iauxiliaryblock 23. Means is provided as indicated by lthe fstuds 24 registering with theelongatedapertures v24a in the 'intermediate blocky 20 for imparting slight longitudinal adjustment to the auxiliary blockl 23. The member 23is`somewhat narrower than the depth of the groove or channel 22-fand anV inde- :pendent shoe- 25 of substantially T-s'hape cross- `sectional form is arranged in the groove to abut against the' member 23.7 The shoe--25 is secured tachaloly and non-adjustably joined bythe screws Y to the member 23 by a studV 26registeringwith an elongated aperture 21in said shoe-providing longitudinal adjustment thereof. 5 l' f i The blocks I5 and 20 together'with the independently adjustable members-23land 25 coopcrate to form the workpiece guideand guide supporting unit ofthe attachment.' The various guide means are arranged tofeed a plurality'of strands-Rand 29,l aviplurality Aof tapes and 3l, and edge portions 32 and 33lof` the sheets to be joined to a position X- slightlyA in advance of the aperture I 4.in -the attaching plate, vwith Ythe tapes, strands, and sheets interfitting in the manner shown in-Fig, 7. 4When fed beyond the position X, the assembled work-pieces pass-beneath the needle of the'sewing machine, and are securely joined together by Aa single line of stitching 34, the line 'of stitching passing between the strands 28 and 29,- as will be'apparent,-

The tape 3| passes through a Asubstantially semicircular groove formed by' opposed curved surfaces 36 and 3l of the blocks I5 and 20 respectively. The .forward end of the block I5v is provided with forwardly extending portions 38 conat the position X. In reversing the curvature of the tape 3|, the tape 'sides' folded over diagonal edges 39a, note Fig. 8, which extend-from' the rounded corner 36aof the# curved surface 36 and. iiirnly Supportedl in, the. .face |511. of the f bloclr 1 5, thereby insuring` a several workpiecesaregstitched together.

.the tube v 40 has nection that the/ strand 29 has beenshownfasin- ,combination of pliable and rigid/ strands are emvployed in lforming the inner and outer welts of the block l5. In 'other Words, the sides ofthe strip 3l which are reversely folded as they pass through the groove are folded at right angles over the edges v351A to bring these sides right side out, whenz-in the position shown in the lower left hand corner of Fig.` 1 and in the final stitched position as seen in Fig. 7.

clearer.

The strand 23 is guided to the positionX' by an elongated tube supportedl bythe. in-

dependently adjustable member 25,whereas, the strand 28 and the tape 3D are-fed to the position X by guide means supported on the auX- iliary block 23. The block 23 is provided with aforked end14| ,forming a passage 42 for loosely engaging the tube 4i). The rforked end 4|, has

.van inner extension 43, terminating in an elongated -tubelksomewhat longer than the tube Jii,, and preferably curvedV at theouter end, 44a thereof to ,provide relatively wide separation of `the strands. The end 44a of the tube `supportsfa a guide sleeve curved to fold the tape.30

`passing therethrough around the tube 44. l The forkend 4in/of ,the member 23,is further pro-`- :vdedwth an outer extension 46,0f, semi-conical contour Aforming in conjunctionwith the inner .extension 43and tube `44 a substantially U-shaped guide for the tape 30. The reduced end 45a ofthe extensiontll` `conforms closely to the ends of; the ltubes lill and 44vv asseen inFig. 2, thereby ,accurately elimine and supporting the, strip 30 .withrespect tothe strands 28 and 29. The outer surfaceof the conical guide extension 46 cooperates with the curved surfaces 38a of thespacedwallsto form in clined passages `for guiding edges of sheets such as the sheets :and `LLatthe pointpf assembly X. It will be noted ,in thiSdn/necton that. thefiorward edge iiatof. therblockzfris inclined l rearwardly, away from` the position X as seen in Eig. 1, to facilitate1theguiding. and joiningofsheets having a slightly concaveedge curyature. rIfhe sheets will be lmarnially fedfbetween the, tapes 38, and 3l direction ofthe sur- Substertially complete .enveloping of; the ,strand 29iby h,stril1, 30,and,sheets 3 2 .and 33 when the Ehe various guide means employed provide free feed-ing of the several ,-worlpieces vto thepointof assembly .and without interfering with the operator ofthe v X Without any danger of entanglement It will benoted in this connection that a slight rearward and `down- Ward inclination Aattheend 46a thereof, thereby providing for more VV complete separation of the device.

strandsl 28,and29. It will be noted in this concluding a reinforcing core 29a of wire or other suitable material. 4It will beapparent, however,

that the method and attachment are equally applicablein forming Welt seams regardless ofwhat The stitching .isl v 1 omitted in Fig. l simply to render the illustration A The adjustment-between the support 23 and the will preferably be fed from suitable storage spools, and it will be apparent that if desired, a guide member similar to the member 41 may also be provided between the guide. ysleeve .45, and the storage spool for the tape 30.

The various adjustments provided on the attachment are adapted to compensate for variations in the sizes of workpieces to be assembled.

-shoe 25 permits relative movement of the guide --l tubes 40 and. with respect to each other, thereby compensating for variations in the size of either ofthe strands 28 or 29. The strands can ported-'inthe direction-of` block l5 Iwhilefedinto .the Vposition o'f assembly -X.

thus be guided into closely spaced relation at the point of assembly X.

' The adjustment provided between the support 23 and .the intermediate block20 .providedor -movernent of the guide. tubes 4l)A and -44 together with. the tape-guide 46 transversely with. respect tothedirection of feed of the Workpieces. This adjustment compensates-for variations Ain the combined dimensions of the strands28A and. 29.to gether with-.the tape --301folded i. 'therearound When properly adjusted, it willbe apparent that the strands 28, 29, and` tapelare firmly supthe-.surface |56l of the The-adjustment provided between the guide bloclrl and-the attaching plate Il provides for -movement of the-entire assemblagefwithk respect to theneedle aperture. I4 in the lmounting plate. This-.adjustment .in other words, provides for `theproper location-of the line of stitching 34 betweenthe strands 28 and 29. It will thus be apparent that -the various adjustments, when .properlymada `insure firm and accurate assembling of -the several workpieces vand accurate joining `of the workpieces to form an improved welt seam.

Inlthelweltseam,-asshown in Fig. 7, the strand Y2i! Atogether-withvtlle cover tape 30 thereof forms the true or exposed welt, whereas the strand 29 together withtheedge portions of the sheets 32 and 33 and the-'cover tape 3|,.forms an inner reinforcing welt. -In' some constructions it `will be noted that two or more independent strands may `'be substituted for the inner strand 29 with a pair of independent strands arranged transversely with respect to the strand I28. Such a construction would provide added reinforcement lto the-seam, especially when the sheets' 32- and 33 are to be ieXed sharply in the use thereof.

' "'It will be understood in this connection that it is within the scope of the present yinvention to modify the shape f and contour of the strand guideL40-as-=well asr the tape'guides 45'and 4B tof properly-unite theI various strand and tape members in feeding the-same tothe point ofvassembly X. It will further beA noted'that the particularcontour of--the passage -or groove-38b, for-med between the protruding walls 3B of the blockn l5, may `be -var-iedv in accordance with the particular vcontour of the welt seam to be formed.

-IIavingfully described my invention, what I .clairnas new andrdesire toV secure by Letters IPatent, is:

1. Anattachment for joining .pairs-of strand, strip andsheet ,members in forming a welt seam, said .Y attachmentcomprising a mounting `plate .adapted -to be adjustably securedito a sew-ing machina a workpiece. guidefblock adjustably .seucuredto said mounting plate and havingmro- VVtruding wall. portions,` an intermediate block; .de- .tachably and -,non -adjustably :,secured to- :said -rst named blcckfxindependentiworkpiece; guide supports adjustably securedrtol-said intermediate block, means1ononIof/saidflast fnamed supportsfor guiding a single strandftoward apointpf as- `fsembly-in'terinediate the protruding-kwali portions of said rstnamed -block,fme `a`ns` on the other iof said supports for/guiding onestrandand one `tape toward saidpoint ='"of 1 assembly and? simultaneously folding said '-tape-f-'iabout- 'saidq strands, means-formed between said first named block and iri'termediatef-blocklvfor guiding a `second tape toward saidpoint'of fas'sembly in areverse folded position', means iir the protrudingA walls of said "rstfnamed bloclfforreversing the fold Ain said tape) thereby-folding ,the y same about said strands and-first namedftape, andthe' outer surfaceof i" said strand and tape'guidingimeans' andthe opposed surfaces "of'fthe f protruding walls of said block forming means'for guiding edge'p'ortions of ,sheet members toward lsaid point; ofc assembly."

V2. Anv attachmentfor' 'joining 'pairs' of strand, strip and sheet'meinbers forming a AvWelt seam, "said attachment" :comprising a mounting' pla'te adapted to be adjustablyjs'ecuredjto a 'sewing 'machine, afvvorkpiece" guide blockY adjustably sefor guiding'a single strand toward a point'of assembly intermediate the protruding' Wall vportions 'of said first named'blc'k,-'rv means' on the other Vof said supports forfguiding one strand and one tapetoward'said point -ofmassembly ands'imulta- 35 neously ffrolding" said tap *about said strands, means formedy *betweenl rsaid jiirst namedfblock and intermediatel block for guiding a second tape toward said pointof assembly'iniareverseffolded position',` means Iini theV protruding walls vof said EA"r'st named block for reversing the f old'in said tape thereby foldingthe sameaboutsaid strands and firstv named tape, the outersurface vof said i strand and tape guiding means fa'ndjthe opposed "A d' i '"'kt45 *surfaces of' the pro-tru' mg Walls 0I Saud bloc firs-t named block for reversing theafoldin said l forming means .forfguiding'edge portions of sheet imer'nb'er's toward Ysaid point ofA assembly; :a needle 'aperture in saidl mounting plate adjacent Vvthe protruding vWalls of said first nar'ned"-block,` and A*saidprotruding walls "forming A'means vfor sup'- portingtheassembled members in-close engage- "ritieni"fvvhiieL-the'same are lfled past said needle f r'ture and-joined by asingle line of stitching. ,An attachment for joining pairs ofA strand,

A 'adapted to be adjustably vsecured to a sewing mafchine', a workpiece guide block' adjustably sefo'rguidinga single straincltoward a point' of aslv lf "sembly intermediate the protruding Wall portions foi* saidfrst ynamed block, means on v'the other joflsaidsuppvorts for guidingV onefjs'trand andfone tape' ,toward said'rpoint of assembly vand simulta- "neously'folding'said tape about: said strands,-

means formed between said rst named block and vinterm'ediat'e 'block for guiding a second tape toward said point of assembly in a reverse;

folded position, means in the protruding Walls of said first named block for reversing the fold ustripy and shet'niembers in forminga Welt seam, f. .said attachmentl comprising a mountingA plate insaid tape ,therebyf folding the same-iabutzsaid v.strands and rst named tape; the outer'surface `I` of said strand and'tape guiding meansfiandathe opposed surfaces of the protruding 'walls ofesaid 5 block forming means for, guiding edge .portionsof l' sheet :members vtoward, said point of= vassembly-,ea yrneedle' aperture in said mounting,plate'fa'djac'ent ythe protruding Wallsof saidrst named block,

said protrudingwalls forming means for', support- 110'; ing the assembled members in=close engagement While the same arefedpast said 'needle aperture and joined by .a single; line of,v stitching.v and.;the a'djustmentof said Yiirst,named1b1ockforming f means for. accurately positioningithe :assembled :l5V members withrespectto .saidneedle aperture-to ,rtachablyand non-adjustably secured to saidirst y 5 namedfblock, independent workpiece, guidel supports adjustably. secured ltosaid lintermediate `block, means on'one ofsaid last named-,supports for guidinga single strandztoward apointof aslsembly intermediate the protruding. Wall' portions -gof said first named block, ymeans on the other `of said supports vforguiding-i one strand .andone tape toward said'point'o assembly andasimultaneously folding said tape aboutsaid strandsithe relative Yadjustment of, saidV supports? forming means *compensating yfor vvariations fin -size1of .v either-of said strands, thel simultaneous adjustment of both-of said supports.Withrespectwto said intermediate blocki forming means; compen- ;;sating for variations in the combined dimensions o voi-said strands in guiding the'vsameftogether with .'saidstrip toward the point of assembly, means informed between said rstsnamed vblockand in- 4rt'ermediate blockrfor guiding a second tapezto- .Ward-said-,point of assembly in a reverse'folded sposition, meanssinthe protruding walls of said tape thereby folding, the same about said strands and first named tape, and the oute'risuriace of said strand and tape guiding means andthe op miposed surfaces-of theiprotruding wallsbof said block formin'gmeans for guiding edgeiportions of sheet members toward said point ofassembly. 5. An attachment for -joining pairsof strands,

, strip. and sheet-members in forming a welt seam, Asaid attachment comprising a mounting, plate 'adapted to be adjustably secured to rasewirig -machine, a workpiece guide block adjustably se- -cured to said mounting platev and having protruding wallportions, an intermediatefblock dew'- tachably and non-adjustably securedvtofsaidl first named block, independent workpiece-'guidewsupportsl adjustably secured to said intermediate block, means on one of said last named supports Afor guiding a single strand towarda point of assembly intermediate the protruding Wall portions Aof said first named block, means onvthe'other 'of said supports for guiding one strandandonc tape toward said-point of assembly and simulvtan'eously folding saidv tape about said strands,

ZOJmeansOrmed betweensaid first named-'block Aand"intermediate block for guidingas'econd tape `vtoward'said point of assembly in a'reverse foldied position, means in the protruding Walls of said rst named block for reversing the fold in said tape thereby folding the same about said :.strandsf. andi 'rst namedi tapan-the* outer sursfaceffof. saidv strand and. tape Lguidin'gmeans; and theopposed surfaces offsthenprotruding .wallsxof said. block forming. meansifor :guiding` edge :por-

l supporting the. assembled members inl close en- .gagement Whilethe samegare fedrpast -said Lneedle aperture/and joined byasingle lineaofastitching,

and .the forward edges of tsaidintermedi'ate block adjacent. the protruding walls. of saidifrst' named block being inclined.: rearwardly;'therebyxfacli- .tating the feeding of Y'sheetshaving-concaveedge .=..curvature toward saidzpoint of; assembly.,

6,A sewing machine attachment `fortforming .Welt seams of the classdescribed,;'saidattachment comprising amounting platezadaptedfto tbe adjustablv secured toa machine, f means., adjust,`

able with respect to Ysaid r mounting. :plate: for; .sup-

porting independently :adjustable yworkpiece guides,n saidV means rcomprising; a rrblock; `having "spaced protrudingy wallsat the' Vfrontnportion thereof, said means includingsaidblock having-vA 'l a. workpiece guide passage of .,curved,..crossesec .tional contour extending. longitudinally of; said -blockand registering at the forward :endthereof with said'protruding walls, the forward endof the 1 passage forming portion of .said blockr .havingmgo of sheet members between overlapped sideAedges ,diagonal walls forv reversing the, curvature `of the workpiece emerging from saidV passage and .in

. extendingthe workpieces. in-substantially,:right angles to saidipassage, said rstnamedtworkpiece guides' being adapted to feed a pluralityzof3335 strands together with a tape enveloping said strands between the protruding wallsfoftfsaid' block `and said reversely folded:workpieceffsaid c; protruding `Vwalls, #being fashioned .f and spaced 5 for supporting the assembled workpiecesin':1i1".1114` from said workpiece guidesrin a manner torpro-Mo :vide for the feeding of a'pair ofsheet'members therebetween on opposed sides of'said tape Land lstrands adjacent .said workpiece `reversing means, and said protruding wallsforming .means engagement while the same are unitedby a single line of stitching 'passingI therethrough Vbetween said strands.

7; `In a sewing machine attachment '--ofi the class described, adjustable means 'for guiding2 20550 f plurality of strands; and a tapetoward a..point i of` assembly. and for vsimultaneouslyfolding' said .rtape llabout said'strands; means .tforfguiding edges lfof. a pair `of*slleet'rnembers.toward* saidpoint` of :.:assembly at.. opposed., sides, ofzfsaidv tapexrandg .f'strands, means `for guiding. a.. second tapersub- '.stantially at right angles to saidl 'point` ofassem- --f.bly, means simultaneouslyreversing and folding f first-namedtape; and ymeansfor retaining'saidom lthecsecondtape about said; sheetsstrands f and sheet,strands,y and tapesinassembled position zi;while;passing a line of vstitchingtlrieretlfirough .ptbetween saidstrands. d d ,l 8. In an attachment;` of .f thegclassffdescribed,

means for assemblinga plurality of.T strands ,anck365 a' tapesaid meansicomprising ndependenttubes -glforpguiding the strands toas-point Cif-assembly, V`means. for guiding a tapesubstantially. at, right vangles to the ,strands adjacent. thek point, off'as- .semblyl, means at said` point of lassembly` reverselsmo ,ifolding the tape around said strands-and vegdgend- .ing the. .same parallel` thereto, l and-:- saidizattach- .ment being providedvwith means-for l-receiving thefneedle of a :sewingmachinefftthereby'unite ...said strands and tape: l

- 9. tIn an. attachment of-fthe class described z 5', meansfgfor, guiding -andfolding.oneftape in a subi stantiallyf-straight lline-,afxneansr fol-2 guiding and folding another tape at substantially right angles Vto thenrstV named tape at the position of assemblage of said tapes, meansat said .position of asm semblage .for reversely folding the second tape and to4 extend: the second-.tape parallel to the. first tape .Withfree side edges. of; said y-tapes )over- ;lapping eachother at the position of'assemblage and said attachment being .provided with means 15 for receivingthe needle of Vadsewing machine to 25 blage of said tapes, means Vat said position ofrassemblage for reversely'folding the second tape and to extend the second tape'par'allf-:ltoV the first tape with free side. edges of said tapes overlapping each other,.means for guiding. edge portions of rsaid tapes, and said attachment` being providedwith means :for receiving the needle of. a sewing machine to thereby unite the A.tapes and edge portions of said sheetmembers.

11. -In an .attachment of the :class: described, means for guiding and folding one-tape in a substantially straight line,'means for guidingand folding another tape at substantiallyright :angles to the first named tape at .the positionpf assemblage of said tapes, means-at .said posi-tionof assemblage 4for reversely foldingthe second .tape and to extend the second ytapeparallelto'. the vfirst tape with free side edges of saidv tapes overlapping each other, means for guiding independent strands between the `vfolded v.tapes,...meansdor guiding edge portions of sheet members between overlapped, side edgesrof said tapes, andsaid attachment being provided .with means for `receiving the needle of a sewing .machine 4tofthe'reby unite said-tapes and sheet members', intermediate said strands in unitingthe. assemblage. .12. The method of forming a .we1tseam,.which comprises guiding two strandssubstantiallyparallel to each other to a point'of` assemblage, guiding a folded stripvlongitudinally*offonetof said strands and with said .strandarranged in the fold thereof,k guiding anotherstrip at right angles to the other strand adjacent the point-.fof assemblage, reversely folding thesecond :named strip adjacent the point of assemblage .around the second strand .and thenextendingthesame parallel thereto with said strand arranged Vwithin the fold of the second strip and with Aside edges of the second strip overlapping corresponding edges of the rst strip, guiding. edgeslof two` sheet members between overlapped. edges of saidstrips, and then assembling the partsbyl a single line/.of stitching passing through the. overlappedportions of said strips andsaid sheetmembersfwith said stitching arranged ,intermediate said strands. 

